Youth

Introduction by Hester Thrale

Miss Burney and myself and my eldest Daughter were chatting yesterday Evening, and I was regretting the Loss of my Youth; the Girls agreeing that there were no such mighty Reasons for Regret at losing it—they did not appear to enjoy that for which I was sorrowing, & it came into my Head that Youth was the only , thing that the more it was out of Sight the less it was out of mind:— so I sate & wrote before them the following Lines—they would do well enough for a Riddle in the Ladies Diary.

That which still flies us—yet keeps still behind,
That which most out of Sight is most in Mind;
That which is dearest of all earthly Things,
That whose Reverse Disease & Sorrow brings;
That which the King's Revenue cannot buy,
And which the King possesses not—am I.—

Written by Hester Lynch Thrale.
Thraliana 1 May 1779. Hester Thrale's spelling, grammar and capitalisation, some of which may not conform to today's standards, are reproduced faithfully throughout.